Matthew Rogers writes about attending a military funeral for Vernon “Slim” Paaren.

The key symbol was the American flag. As it was being folded by the service people, one of the Veterans who had fired the three shot gun salute began to speak. He said the flag is a symbol of our freedom.

"The red stripes represent the blood of those who gave their lives to protect our freedoms.

The white stripes signify the purity and innocence of freedom itself.

The Blue field with white stars represents the great wide sky that stretches across our land, reminding us that we are truly one Nation under God."

Reminders are helpful.

Communion is a helpful reminder. When we take the bread we say "This is Christ’s body." It represents the torture he went through when he hung on the cross, his body broken for us. He incurred a punishment that was rightfully ours.

This my redeemer did for me when He died on Calvary.

When we take the juice, we say "This is Christ’s blood." It represents the stream of blood that poured out around the cross. Grace from God at the expense of the cruel and painful death of the spotless Lamb of God. Can you imagine the scene? Can you picture the blood?

Can you hear his cry of agony, “It is finished! Father into your hands I commit my Spirit?”

This my Jesus did for me when He died on Calvary.

Reminders are helpful.

SOURCE: Matthew Rogers, Senior Minister of the Christian Church of Clarendon Hills, Illinois.

Related Sermons

Happiness is being forgiven and appropriating that truth, read the bumper sticker. When I read that quote it made me realize that happiness is continually enhanced through our participation in the truths found in the Lord’s supper. Jesus said, "This is my